The Traveling Taylors

We didn’t go inside the Edinburgh Palace of Holyrood during our trip, but once we started researching, the royal drama and secret histories hooked us. If you’re into scandals, ghost stories, and untold tales, here are the palace secrets you won’t find on every tour.

1. Mary, Queen of Scots’ Hidden Staircase

• There’s a narrow spiral staircase linking her bedroom to her private audience chamber.
• It was allegedly used during the brutal murder of her secretary, David Rizzio, right outside her room.

2. Ghosts of Holyrood Abbey

• The adjacent Holyrood Abbey ruins are said to be haunted.
• Visitors and staff have reported strange lights, cold spots, and eerie feelings.

3. Royal Intrigue & Betrayals

• The palace has witnessed betrayals, affairs, and even royal murders.
• Bonnie Prince Charlie used it as his base in 1745 during the Jacobite uprising.

4. Queen Elizabeth’s Scottish Residence

• This is still the official royal residence in Scotland.
• Queen Elizabeth II stayed here during Holyrood Week each summer until her passing.
• Royal ceremonies still take place here annually.

5. Symbols & Clues Hidden in Plain Sight

• Look for subtle Scottish heraldry in the ceilings and tapestries.
• The architecture tells its own story—with gothic, renaissance, and baroque elements blending across time.

Discover the Palace’s Hidden Layers 

The Edinburgh Palace of Holyrood is more than just rooms and relics—it’s a living storybook of royal secrets and Scottish history. Keep your eyes open and your curiosity sharp, and you might just uncover something that’s been hiding for centuries.